The food is one of the major factors in why we all look forward to Christmas every year - what can beat a full turkey and ham dinner?
The royal family also indulge in a day of feasting on Christmas as a former royal chef has revealed what is on their jam-packed annual menu.
He also explained the serious reason why the family forgo a common UK food tradition.
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Darren Grady joined the royal household staff in 1982 and became a senior chef during his time there, eventually leave in 1993. While no one wants to work on Christmas Day, he admitted that it was a "special" experience and the staff always had a lovely time.
“We worked alternate Christmases,” Darren told BBC. “You would be at Sandringham for two weeks. So, if you wanted to celebrate with your family, you’d have to celebrate with them before or after because usually you’d be up there from December 22 until after New Year.
“But they (the royal family) always made it special for you… The staff would have lots to drink and there would be loads of food and chocolate – and you’d have the full turkey roast, so you weren’t really missing out because you were enjoying the celebration too.”
Here's a glimpse into the royal family's Christmas Day food menu.
Breakfast
According to Darren, they would start with a full cooked breakfast on Christmas Day.
"They opened their Christmas presents the day before, on Christmas Eve," he said. "So after breakfast they’d go to church, come back and go on to lunch."
Christmas lunch
The family always opt for the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
“Usually it was homemade sage and onion stuffing, Brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, sometimes parsnips and carrots – it varied year to year – mashed potatoes and roast potatoes, homemade gravy, then Christmas pudding with brandy sauce," said Darren.
A common tradition has been banned
The UK, there is a tradition of adding silver coins into Christmas pudding. This tradition came from the notion that whoever finds the coin in their pudding serve can keep the coin, and has the added bonus of “good luck” for the new year ahead. However, the royal family avoid this due to it being a choking hazard.
“No, we never did that! Ever since the Queen Mother choked on a fish bone that time… we were too nervous to do that," Darren explained, referring to the time the Queen Mother needed surgery in 1982 after a fish bone became lodged in her throat.
Dessert spread
The family usually finishes their day off with something sweet.
“Later in the day there would be afternoon tea, and that always included a chocolate Yule log, a Christmas cake made by the chefs in the kitchen and a selection of chocolatey pastries."
English (US) ·